Briere absence from Flyers lineup looms large amid early struggles

NEWARK, N.J. -- It's only been two games, but the most noticeable aspect of the Flyers' start is how much they miss Danny Briere.

Out until at least the weekend and perhaps beyond due to a hairline fracture of his left wrist, Briere indicated Tuesday night that he felt he was close to returning. He just couldn't pin down a specific time.

"I can't wait to be allowed to get into some contact drills, be involved in a little bit more of game-situation (practices)," Briere said prior to the Flyers' game against the Devils at Prudential Center. "It's tough to tell. It's a day-to-day thing. All I can say is we're not too far away. But I don't know exactly which game it may be. Maybe the weekend, maybe after the weekend."

Though Briere only scored 16 regular-season goals last season, he proved his worth in the playoffs as the Flyers' most effective forward with eight goals and 13 points. Through two games of post-lockout-scramble hockey, Briere's value to the Flyers again was obvious. They've been anemic.

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The Flyers registered but three goals in their opening losses to Pittsburgh and Buffalo, scoring just once in nine power-play tries. Making matters worse, their penalty killing was terrible in those first two games, allowing five goals on nine opposition power plays.

Another thing missing without the 35-year-old Briere: Some needed veteran guile in the middle.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Briere will get another X-ray Thursday, then will be re-evaluated. That means he would have missed four games, and even if cleared for contact Thursday, would have only a quick practice Friday before getting on a plane for Florida for the next two games, Saturday against the Panthers and Sunday against the Lightning.

So don't be surprised if Briere takes the weekend to sharpen up his stick skills before trying to deal with this busy schedule.

Then again, if the losing continues...

"I felt a little better again today," Briere said. "That's a good thing. It seems like every time I've been skating I've been able to take the next step. But then there's something else that prevents me from going too hard or all out. I'm feeling better and better every day. That's about all I have at this point. I don't really know how long, or how much more time I will need. But we're moving in the right direction."

In addition to Briere, the Flyers have lost checking line forward Zac Rinaldo to a skate cut on his right thigh. That, and the scoring problems in the first two games, caused a seismic shift of the lines for the Devils game. Brayden Schenn was taken off the top line at right wing and put in what likely is a more natural center position between Phantoms call-up Tye McGinn and Wayne Simmonds. Jake Voracek took Schenn's spot on the top line.

Rinaldo is expected to miss at least a week, but Holmgren admitted it could be longer.

"It's like he's dealing with a charley horse, really," Holmgren said. "It's sore. He had more soreness (Monday) than today. The actual cut looks good. It's just a question of feeling comfortable and bending his leg. I still think it's one week for sure. ... And it might be more than that."

Schenn, 21, didn't take the move personally. He had played in Adirondack while NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and players union chief Donald Fehr played with the league's future, and had clicked there with McGinn.

NOTES: Holmgren was asked if he'd planned on sending Scott Laughton back to the OHL after five games, which is the most he's allowed to play here before getting a last pass back to juniors. "I have no clue," Holmgren said. "He's played good and we'll continue to see how he does. It's not like we're waiting to see if he fails. He's continued to play well and do little things that seem to be beyond his years. But we don't need to make any quick decisions today." ... Flyers healthy scratches were Jody Shelley and Tom Sestito, one of whom would have to be waived if Laughton sticks. ... Defenseman Kurtis Foster was held out of the morning skate and game Tuesday at Prudential Center, leading to speculation of an injury. But Holmgren said Foster was on "a maintenance day." Just remember Foster was coming off a fractured clavicle suffered while playing in Finland during the lockout.